Faller bar shock absorber



July 15, 1952 R. G. DENToN, JR 2,602,965

FALLER BAR sHocK ABsoRBER INVENTOR. RIEHHRD ilsmnmlm Y v mm? HTTURNEYS July l5, 1952 Filed Feb. 5, 1949 R. G. DENTON, JR

FALLER BAR SHOCK ABSORBER 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVENToR. FY' l EHHR'JJ GUENTUNAR BY/? wwf/@Z1 Fi-VTDRNEYS Patented July 15, 1952 l FALLER BAR SHOCK ABsoRBER Y lA p Richard Denton,l Jr., Cleveland, Ohio,vassirgnor to The Warner & Swasey Company,

This invention relates to gill boxes containing pin drafting. mechanism for the treatment of slivers or fibers as a .part .of the yarn making process, and more particularly to shock absorber means for absorbingthe energy impartedto the fallerbars during the transfer'operation and for stabilizing themotionvof thegfaller bars as they are picked up bythe lead screws.

Gill boxes have ybeeniproposed wherein one or two sets offaller bars are advanced with the sliver bycam or screw means, transferred at the end of theirV drafting `stroke to return lead screws ofa relatively high fpitchlby a rotary S-cam, and transferred .by another S-,camto their drafting position.,y Modern Vweaving 'and drafting machineryzis operatedatspeeds higher than those formerly encountered in 'the art. The increase inA speed has laccentuated diiiiculties and problems incidentto the operation of gill boxes of the type to which this invention relates.

One of the difficulties encountered is in connection with the faller bars. The pins of such bars are customarily4 made separately and fastened in place in the bars by means of soldering, crimping, orl other fastening operations. .With the increased speed ofI operation mentioned, the bars are rapidly projected by the S-cams against their guide strips or saddles at the ends of each transfer` operation. The impact of thel faller bars against theirguides or saddles tends toloosen the pins from their mounting so, that after a period of time the pins become detached from the bars, greatly reducing the uniformity ofthe drafting action. Likewise, vthe impact Aof the bars against their saddles or guides tends todeform, dent, or wear the guides at the point of impact, and after a period ofoperation 'the deformation resulting tends to cantathebarsas they are picked up by the associated fleadscrews. 1 This canting of the bars in the leadscrewsalso reduces the uniformity of the drafting action and impairs the entry action of the pins into the sliver. Although these effects can be'reduced by reducing the speed of the apparatus, such an expedient is not desirable because not only does' it reduce the output of the apparatus, .butgthe faller bar pins hio,'a corpcration ofv Ohio v u i Y Application February 5, 1949, Serial No. 74,737 Y 10 claims. (el. isi-129)* Cleveland,

` have been cumbersome and complicated, thereby donot make as clear ari-entry when the machine is'run at low speeds as it doeswhen the machine is run at higher speeds. u' Y l v Iam aware .that'certain proposals have been made to provide some sort of spring or relief means for lessening the shock. orimpact ofthe bars'. during transfer. "However, prior relief means have been Vunsatisfactoryin that they have been either Weak .and ineffectiveirr their action, have introducing additional sources of mechanical difliculty. v v Y j It is an object of the present invention to provide effective cushioning that prevents' detachment of the pins from the bars, protects the saddles or guide members from deformation, and does not interfere with effective transfer action, the cushioningmeans being extremely simple to manufacture and inexpensive. to maintain. Briefly, this is accomplished by providing lowmass, resiliently-extended plungers which receive the impact of the barsv and retract into their housing readily, to permit thenormal motion of the bars to occur. Preferably, the plungers are extended by a resilient rubber-like body of material which absorbs theenergypf, the bars without excessive rebound.r and -provides a smoothlyf acting and rugged cushioningmeans.

Another diiiiculty encountered, particularly when the speeds of the .gill boxes are increased over the prior practice, is that the action becomes erratic at the phase in the transfer cycle wherein control of thebars shifts from the S-cam to the lead screw or fallerbar advancing means. There is a period wherein the S-cam loses control ofY the bars and whereinthe bars have not fully engaged the lead screw, and during this period canting, pounding, and slapping of the bars may readily result. Y

An important object of the present invention vresides in resiliently gripping and guiding the bars during this period to produce a uniform and steady action. This is accomplished by` providing saddle or guide cam surfaces which face and cooperate with the cushioning means so that the bars are resiliently gripped and firmly guided during theaforesaid transitioniperiod until tthe bars are substantially fully engaged withtheir lead screws, atvwhich time lthe problem isno longer present. A

Ancillary objects reside in providing cushioning means that are readily installed in existing machines that provide virtually no interfering parts to catch dirt, lint, or the like, that can be readily replaced, and ythat are economical to manufacture and install. Y

The manner in which these and other objects that will be apparent to those skilled in the art are obtained will beapparent from the following detailed description fof a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Inthe drawings: i

Fig. 1 is an end view of a typical gill box embodying theinvention; i

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section thereof;

Figs. 3 and 4 are fragmentary sections illustrating the operation of the device;

Figs. 5 and 6 are partial views showing typical faller .bar construction;

Fig. '7 is a detail of the bufferl assembly with the coverplate removed; and,

Fig. S is a section taken on 8 8 of Fig. '7 with the cover plate in place.

Referring to the drawings, the gill box I9 includes several conventional elements known tov those skilled in the art which will not be described in detail. These elements are the lower return screw and shaft I I, the lead screw and shaft I2 for the lower set of bars, the lead screw and shaft I3 for the upper set` ofl bars and the upper .bar return screw and shaft I4. The return and lead screws are geared together for opposite rotation and the -'pairs of screws are also gearedg together. for synchronism by suitable gearing well knownin'the art. Y y

S-cams I5 are provided to transfer the feller bars, the constructionrand operation of rthese camsbeing well. known inthe art. As in the usual construction, S-cams are carried at the sliver Vexitends ofy theY lead screws to transfer the bars to the return screw, and at the sliver entrance endV of the` apparatus S-cams are car-'- ried by the return-screws vto 'transfer the bars to-theleadscrews. l* l In thepreferred form `therfaller bars Bare arranged in upper andl lower sets. First support'meansor saddles I 6- guidethe bars of the lower set as they are advanced during drafting. Second support means orf/saddles I 'I-support and guide the barsas Vthey are returned by the lead screws II to the entranceendof the apparatus. Similarly, there are provided-firstsupport means or saddlesv I8 toguidethe upper set of bars during drafting, and second support means or saddles I9 which support them during their ren turn motion. -Y A Each bar memberV B includes the usual pins 2|- thatare solderedv for otherwise' fastened in place. -Each-*b'anisgrelieved--as' at 32 for pin clearance between the 1ov.`fs-of-{bars-.l 'Ihe ends of. the bars are formed with screw followers as at 23 vtoride in thescrews, the followers 23preferably being arranged so that the bars are vertical wlienthe followersaredisposed in the lead screw or means that advances them for drafting. Opposite endspf the bars are notched as at 24V to assist in guidingthemover `the ends of the saddles during transfer from one screwt the other. I

AsV disclosed inthe cov-*pending.application of James R. Longstreet and Raynaldo lJacques, Serial No. 41,646, nlediJuly 30, 1948, resiliently mounted guidingfingers orv conductors are provided to assist in the smooth transfer action at both ends of the apparatus. For the lower set of bars there is anouter conductorl'gfor guid-VVV ingthe bars duringtransfer tothe return screw.

and an inner conductor 2l for guiding the bars during transfer toY *thel lead screw. Similarly,A

conductors 28'and l29 respectively.arepl'fvided for the upper set of bars(v Certain features of construction are common'. to all conductors and will be described in connectionwith finger 2E. Thefingers are pivotally mountedonthe frame of the apparatus as' at 3Iand carry a springv bolt 32 which mounts a spring 3 3 reacting against a block 34 fixed to the frame ofV the apparatus. A stop 35 may be provided to limit the action of the spring on the finger.' The function of the surface of the saddles I'IlI conductors is described in detail in the aforesaid co-pending application of Longstreet et al., Serial No. 41,646.

Although buffer or cushioning means formed in accordance with the invention may be disposed wherever impact of the faller bars becomes a problem, the 'most critical location is where the faller bars are transferred from-th'ereturn screws into their drafting position. That is where they are forced into or make entry with the sliver. This position of the cushioning means is illustrated in detail in the drawings. The guides cr saddles I8 are substantially in the plane of the sliver; their upper surfaces guide the upper set of fallcr bars during the drafting operation and their lower surfacesv prevent displacement of the faller bars from the normal position and engagement against the Aupper surfaces of the saddles IB.

Asseen in Figs. 2, 3, andr4, cushioning means are mounted4 behind cover plate 39 in the enn trance endof the saddles I8. As seen inV Figs. 7 and: 8, recesses 4I, aresunk inthe ends. of saddles,i8^and .oppositely extending holes 42v are broachedtointersect the recesses, these holes be-4 ingsquare in the preferred. embodiment. Disposed in each recessris .a block of rubber-like material 43 which may 'berelieved as at 44` to increase its resiliency. A pair 4of. oppositely ex. tending. square plungers. 46, have. their Shanks disposed in holes 112I and are formed with pads l1V that bear against thefrubber-like block 43. Each plungerv46is beveled;as.at.48to facilitate the slidingfof the .faller-bars over the plunger. The parts arearrangedlsothat the rubberibody 43 is deformed-upon impact 'of the faller bar against theplunger anda-bsorbs theenergy of the faller lbar, preventingitifror'n` striking either VThe clearance'between the .wallsfof recess-fand the rubber-like body, coupled with the*l presence of aperture 44 in the body, provide two columnsl of rubber-like material with a space at each sidel thereof to accommodate flow 'of-the bodymaterial under saddlesto perform a novel and'highly desirable function. l Forexample, inthe lowerleft portionof Fig.- 3 onel ofthe lower fellerbars isin a,`

position wherein it is-.no-longerfbeinglifted by the .S-'cam, but has-just-been p iekedup by -the associated lead screw -for-draftinglmotion The guide forsaddleslt is beveled asat I6avto -form acammed surface so that Vafs-the lead-screwv picks up and advances thev fallen bar, itsA vertical motion'or entr'yfinto the-sliver is completed by a camming action ofsurface IEa, which alsoV serves Vto firmly-[set thefol lowers 23jof the bar in the threads` of ther leadfscrew.v During the camming action however, theifollowers.arejvnot. firmly seated in the lead screw. nor are they under controljof the Secarlryduring whichv period slapping, cantine, andijarring ofthe bars might occur were-it not for thegnovel cooperat on of;

the associatedgbuifer plungersandthe cam surbeen picked upby thel lead screw and'isresil `edge 48 ofthe plungers.

`iently,..but firmly., gripped between tha/.lower resiliently extended lplunger 46 and the facing A transition from the engagement of the bars with the plungers 46 and with their guiding surfaces is made smoothly by means of the beveled A similar cam, surface liga is formed' in the saddle I9. This cam surface need not Vbe as long as the cam surface I6@ .because-in the case of the upper bars .gravity assistsvthe entry of the bars ,into the sliver, whereas ,it` ,opposes that entry with the 'lower bars.

Nevertheless, there may` be a transitionperiod likeV that described and theplungers and rcam surfaces cooperate to firmly guide and locate the bars during that period. Of course, lifdiiiiculty is encountered at the exit end of the apparatus, suitable cushions may be mounted abover and below the bars as they are transferred from lthe lead screws to the return screws. t

It will be understood that the various design details of the buffer assembly may be modified though thepreferred construction is one wherein the plungers are vertical, i. e. parallel to the transferinotion of the faller bars, it will be understood that this angle may be varied s o long as theV cushioning action is not made excessively stiff or hard. Y

p I t will also be understood that although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, the appended claims and not the aforesaid embodiment are determinative of the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

v1. In a gill box, a series of faller bars, faller bar advancing means for causing said bars to traverse with a sliver, return screws for engaging the ends of the bars, saddles for guiding the bars during their traverse with a sliver, cam means for transferring said bars from the return screws to said faller bar advancing means, cam means forv transferring said bars from the advancing means to said return screws, and cushioning means carried by said saddles for receiving said bars during transfer, said cushioning means comprising a base having a chamber, a plunger normallyprojecting from said chamber above the surface of said saddles and a body of rubberlike material insaid chamber and tending to project said plunger, said body of rubber-like material comprising at least one column of rubber-like material for supporting said plunger, there being an open area to each side of said column to facilitate flow of the material of the column during engagement of the saddles by the bars during transfer.

2. In a gill box, a series of faller bars, faller bar advancing means for causing said bars to traverse With a sliver, return screws for engaging the ends of the bars, saddles for guiding the bars during their traverse with a sliver, cam means for transferring said bars from the return screws to said faller bar advancing means, cam means for transferring said bars from the advancing means to said return screws, generally vertical bores in said saddles intersecting a chamber formed therein, plunger means in said vertical bores and normally projecting above the surface traverse with a sliver, returnscrews for engaging f theends of thebars, saddles for guiding the bars during their traverse `with a slivencam means for transferring said bars from the return screws to said fallerbaraldvancing means, cam means for transferring said ,bars from the advancing means tosaid return screws, ,generally vertical bores insaid saddles intersecting a chamber formed therein, plunger means in said vertical .bores and` normally projecting above the surface of said saddles, and a body of rubber-like material in each chamber engaging the inner end of said plunger means and tending to vproject said plunger means for receiving the impact of `the faller bars during transfer, said plungers being beveled in the direction of travel of said bars thereover yto guide said bars gently against the saddles.

4. In a gill box, an upper and lower series of faller bars, fallerv bar advancing means for each series for causing said-bars to traverse with a sliver, return screws for each series for engaging the ends of the bars, saddles for guiding the bars during their traverse with a sliver, cam means for transferring said bars from the return screws to said faller bar advancing means,'cam means for transferring said bars from the advancing means to said return screws, upper and lower generally vertical bores in said saddles intersecting a central chamber, plunger means in said vertical bores and normally projecting above and below the surfaces of said saddles, anda body of rubber-like material` in said chamber engagingthe inner ends of said plunger means and tending to project said `plunger means for receiving the impact of vthe fallerlbars during transfer. Y

' 5. In a gill box having a seriesof faller bars, faller bar advancing and return means, and cam means for transferring said bars to and from the return screws, buffer means for receiving the faller bars during transfer comprising a housing, a borein said housing intersecting a vchamber formed therein, plunger means in said boreA and normally projecting above the surfaceof said housing, and a body of rubber-like material in said chamber engaging the inner end of saidplunger meansand tending to project said yplunger means for receiving the impact of .the

faller bars during transfer.

6. In a' gill box having a series of faller bars, faller bar advancing and return means, and cam means for transferring said bars to and from the return screws, buffer means for receiving the faller bars during transfer comprising a housing, oppositely extending generally vertical bores in said housing intersecting a chamber formed therein, plunger means in said generally ver'- tical bores and normally projecting above the surface of said housing, and a body of rubberlike material in said chamber engaging the inner ends of said plunger means and tending to project said plunger means for receiving the impact of the faller bars during transfer.

7. In a gill box, a series of faller bars, faller bar advancing means for causing said bars tov traverse with a sliver, return screws for engaging the ends of the bars, rst saddles having -guideglfas-fr;;g1digjehe=bars during their traverse 'witha-sliver; second-sad'dleshavigiie faces Afor guiding -sai'd'fbars during their return motion,` transfer caln for transferring (said bars from the return-screw`s to saidfa'lle'r bar advancing means, cam'neans formed-onvsaid saddlesand arranged-to 'jg'radall/ In'ov'e said bars in a vertical?diectionftoward tliegg'uide vfaces upon which -th rest during'-'tl1eir draftingfio'- tion,'andjush1onin'g nean's carried by said gill boklfor engagement-by 'said baisf'said cushioning means cofriprisingfoppos'ed metallic Vplungers and a block-of ubber-likelnaterial disposed 'between theiinne'r ends-of s'aidplunfgersftending to project-said plung'ers't'ward 'sadfsaidle cam means, saidjplungerandl'saddle cax'n Ameans being arranged 'to re'sllientlyjriij -said -faller bar's'b'etween them "during their -period'of initial -engagenient with f s'aid faller bei' advancing means and aft'ertiey havebeen released By said'trans'- vier cani ii'ieans'; saii'blo'ck 'of rubber-likematerial comprising Fat least tw'o lrubb'er-like columns extending between tl'iepluiigers theegbeing fa free spa'ceir-ow of the "material at each side of the columns.

8. In ay gill box, an upper and a lower series of faller bars, each'faller bar having a comb portion Yand guide portions at the ends thereof, faller bar advancing yineans foreach series -for causing said bar's'totrans'vers'e with afsliver, an intermediate pairof laterall,7 spaced saddles `dis posed to each side of the path of the lsliver through said gill-box, upper andl'ower-pairs of laterally spaced saddles, each v`pairbeing spaced from said intermediate pair byy a distance substantiallyequal to the width of sai'd'falle'r bar guide portions to forinfaller barre'eiving h'annels, said yfaller parV advancing means being coextensive withsai'd-'channels return screws 4'above and below said upper and iowe'r' pairs of saddles, transfer cam lnieans for transferring said faller bars from'the lreturn screws vto said faller bar advancing means, am mean's'irrned Von the under end portion of said upper pair of'saddle's and on'the upper end portion of said lower pair of saddles at the :sliver entrance 'end Of the gill box, said cam means being arranged to graduall'ygrn'ove said bars i'n a'vertical direction toward said intermediatefpair 'of'sa'ddlea oppositely extending meniber's mounted' on said 'intermediate saddles and extending toward said lcam nieans, and means resiliently urgingsaid members toward the opposdcam means, the spacing between the Aends-of` said members when fully extendedl and the opposed cam means being less than thewidth of saidkfaller bar guide portions f-'vvrifeysamr'members and. cam means resilitly grip said fguideportions las'the taller bars "enter said channels', 1

i9; Ina-giu aannam-ig@ serie's'of fauer` bars. -fa-ller baradvancingland turn'means. and cam 1nearis fo'r transferring said bars to and rfrom the-return screws, buiferr'neans fo'rreceiving the lfalIr'barsy during' transfer -comprising a housing, a'verticalv bore-in said housing 'intersecting a 'clia'nberf-'fned therein, phing'erin'ean's in said vertical `here 'and nonia'lly projecting above the surface offsaid-hus'ingfand a body of 'rubber- 'Number 11k material inl'said chamber engaging therinner 'fs'tid plungerfnieans and'te'ndlng 'to pro'- ai'd iig'er zneansfdrreceiving the impact yff-alle' lhefs during transfer, there jbeing a, spebetwela'ehleideOf-'Sid 4body Iflil'ld the wail ofsaideh'elinber-toacofinodate flow of the 1'05 In a gillbx-ha'vi'ng' a series 'offfaller bars, faller bar advanc gd t'u'rn'nieans, viidfcam means for transferring sai'dbars to and from the return Screws," biife'rire'ans `for' receiving the 'and the wall k'of said. chamber and Said body having an aperture formed therein-perpendicu- REFERENCES 'CITED The following references areof'r'ecord in the 'file of this patent:

-i'ii) "STATES PATENTS 

